Brief:
18mm Scale model o' Canadian Black Brant VI soundin' rocket.

Construction:

• BT-50, arrr, arrr, 18"
• PNC-50, 4:1 ogive
• 1/8" LL, 2"
• basswood fins, 4 from plans
• 18mm mmt (tube, arrr, block, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, 2 rings, engine hook)
• 12" parachute
• elastic shock cord, shiver me timbers, mount

Single-page, shiver me timbers, matey, matey, easy t' follow instructions for a simple, scale model rocket. T' plans include a simple diagram, arrr, fin template, paintin' guide, and markings which can be scanned, colored, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and transferred t' decal paper. I followed the instructions t' t' letter with t' exception o' t' addition o' TTW tabs to attach t' fins t' t' motor tube as well as t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Clay weight must be added t' t' nose t' balance t' rocket 9" from t' aft t' ensure stability (short fin span).

Finishing:
I painted t' rocket a base coat o' semi-gloss white before maskin' one fin and a white stripe on one side o' t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I then painted t' nose, airframe, and three fins with red Krylon. Avast! Begad! I used SuperCal waterslide decal paper for the letterin' and markings on t' airframe.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on an 18mm Aerotech RMS C12-7T. Aye aye! T' rocket flew perfectly straight t' about 700', ya bilge rat, arched over while emittin' trackin' smoke, but there was no ejection. Avast! T' rocket came in stable at high speed and hit pavement. Well, blow me down! The nose cone, ya bilge rat, airframe, me hearties, and motor mount were obliterated. However t' last four inches o' t' body tube and fins were undamaged (unscratched even), and most fortunately, me bucko, t' motor casin' was also safe. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Apparently t' airframe and nose cone absorbed most o' t' force o' impact.

Recovery:
Forensics seemed t' indicate that t' ejection charge cap be knocked off while loadin' t' motor so t' bp charge was scattered prior t' flight. Begad! Ya scallywag! I need to remember t' modify t' engine block rin' slightly durin' construction if I plan to use t' 18mm reloadable motors. 5 points for flight, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 0 for recovery, 2-1/2 overall. Avast! Ya scallywag! If you do it right you'll have excellent results. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
Good looking, me bucko, simple scale rocket from simple plans. Ahoy! Can't think o' anything negative t' say about that!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5